Nicolas Sarkozy, the former President of France, has been sentenced to five years in prison for criminal conspiracy, according to reports from French media. The Paris Judicial Court delivered the verdict today, finding Sarkozy guilty of involvement in a scheme to illegally finance his 2007 presidential campaign with funds from Libya.

The court imposed a fine of €100,000 on the 70-year-old and stripped him of his civil and civic rights. Although he received a five-year sentence, it comes with a deferred committal order, meaning he will not serve time immediately. Sarkozy is expected to appeal the verdict, which would suspend the sentence until the appeal process is complete.

Sarkozy was convicted on one charge but acquitted of several others, including passive corruption and illegal campaign financing. The court determined that he was part of a criminal association from 2005 to 2007, which involved receiving funds from the regime of former Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi in exchange for diplomatic favours.

Alongside Sarkozy, two of his former ministers, Claude Gueant and Brice Hortefeux, were also found guilty of criminal association but were acquitted of other charges. Prosecutors had sought a seven-year sentence for Sarkozy, as the charge of criminal association can carry a maximum penalty of ten years.